Constantius II Celebrates his Quinque-Tricennalia Click image to view larger Description: Constantius II AR Heavy Miliarense. Sirmium, AD 359-61. D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / GAVDIVM POPVLI ROMANI around wreath, within which VOTIS XXXV MVLTIS XXXX in four lines; SIRM in ex. RSC -; Gnecchi -; RIC -; cf. Lanz 106, November 2001, lot 764. 5.22g, 26mm, 1h. Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, Unpublished in the standard references, and apparently only the second known example. From the Ambrose Collection; Ex A. Tkalec AG, 29 February 2012, lot 255. The miliarense denomination was introduced by Constantine as part of his monetary reforms. Struck on two standards, light and heavy, eighteen light miliarensia or fourteen heavy miliarensia equalled one gold solidus. That they were as highly desirable in antiquity as they are today is evidenced by their extensive mounting and use as pendants. The heavy miliarense was struck at a theoretical 60 to the pound, roughly corresponding to the old weight of the now defunct aureus. The origin of the name is uncertain; Mattingly once suggested that its name commemorated the millenary of the foundation of Rome. Epiphanius of Salamis thought it was derived from ‘miles’, being intended for military pay, but the Nomis Glosses imply a silver unit worth 1/1,000th of a gold pound. Neither of these theories hold up to scrutiny however, and the most likely explanation is that put forward by the fifth century metrologist Dardanius, who suggests that the word implied a coin originally worth 1,000 bronze Nummi. Calculations of relative values seem to indicate this is correct. The striking of this extraordinary issue was possibly occasioned by Constantius’ visit to Sirmium in March 359 as part of the ongoing discussion within the Church over the Arian controversy questioning the nature of the divinity of Christ. Though Constantius’ quinque-tricennalia (thirty five year anniversary) was not until November (he was made Caesar on 8 November 324), he had already begun distributing coinage celebrating his anniversary well in advance: upon his visit to Rome in the Spring of 357, a considerable issue of gold and silver was made celebrating his thirty fifth year in power – a full eighteen months early. Constantius’ thirty fifth year of rule was marked by renewed hostilities with the Sassanid Persian empire, as Shapur II launched a new invasion of Roman territory, destroying Singara and its two defending legions, and taking the cities of Kiphas, Amidas, and Ad Tigris. A campaign was launched to recapture the lost territories, though this would prove unsuccessful, and it would be left to the future emperor Julian to defeated Shapur in 363.
Constantius II Celebrates his Quinque-Tricennalia Click image to view larger Description: Constantius II AR Heavy Miliarense. Sirmium, AD 359-61. D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / GAVDIVM POPVLI ROMANI around wreath, within which VOTIS XXXV MVLTIS XXXX in four lines; SIRM in ex. RSC -; Gnecchi -; RIC -; cf. Lanz 106, November 2001, lot 764. 5.22g, 26mm, 1h. Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, Unpublished in the standard references, and apparently only the second known example. From the Ambrose Collection; Ex A. Tkalec AG, 29 February 2012, lot 255. The miliarense denomination was introduced by Constantine as part of his monetary reforms. Struck on two standards, light and heavy, eighteen light miliarensia or fourteen heavy miliarensia equalled one gold solidus. That they were as highly desirable in antiquity as they are today is evidenced by their extensive mounting and use as pendants. The heavy miliarense was struck at a theoretical 60 to the pound, roughly corresponding to the old weight of the now defunct aureus. The origin of the name is uncertain; Mattingly once suggested that its name commemorated the millenary of the foundation of Rome. Epiphanius of Salamis thought it was derived from ‘miles’, being intended for military pay, but the Nomis Glosses imply a silver unit worth 1/1,000th of a gold pound. Neither of these theories hold up to scrutiny however, and the most likely explanation is that put forward by the fifth century metrologist Dardanius, who suggests that the word implied a coin originally worth 1,000 bronze Nummi. Calculations of relative values seem to indicate this is correct. The striking of this extraordinary issue was possibly occasioned by Constantius’ visit to Sirmium in March 359 as part of the ongoing discussion within the Church over the Arian controversy questioning the nature of the divinity of Christ. Though Constantius’ quinque-tricennalia (thirty five year anniversary) was not until November (he was made Caesar on 8 November 324), he had already begun distributing coinage celebrating his anniversary well in advance: upon his visit to Rome in the Spring of 357, a considerable issue of gold and silver was made celebrating his thirty fifth year in power – a full eighteen months early. Constantius’ thirty fifth year of rule was marked by renewed hostilities with the Sassanid Persian empire, as Shapur II launched a new invasion of Roman territory, destroying Singara and its two defending legions, and taking the cities of Kiphas, Amidas, and Ad Tigris. A campaign was launched to recapture the lost territories, though this would prove unsuccessful, and it would be left to the future emperor Julian to defeated Shapur in 363.
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